Coin controlled vending apparatus



May 28, 1940. c, A. lx--RIEMERING I l COIN CONTROLLED VNDING APPARATUS Filed June l, 1959 Vl. Vf 0 /a/H @1mm W M 6 I 5 44 mvv a All'.

Patented May 28, 1940 o comy ooNTRoLLED VENDING APPARATUS Clarence A. Friemering, Dayton, Ohio l Application June y1, 1939, serial No. 2763544 6 Claims.

One object of the invention 1s to provide a multiple coin controlled mechanismv which will be simple' in construction, positive in operation andv inexpensive to constructf Y A further object of the invention'is to provide such a mechanism in Whichthe coin chute moves with 'the ejector and the yejector lock is controlled in accordance with the number of coins in the chute. Y e

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflcient vending apparatus embodying such a controbmechanism. i

Other objects of the invention may appear as the apparatus is describedin detail.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 `is a sectional view of a vending apparatus embodying my invention, taken on the line I-'I of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a sectional view takenon theline 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.' 2; and Fig. 4 is a vdetail view of the chute and Acontrolling rods, partly broken away.

l In the drawing I have illustrated one embodment of my invention and have shown the same as embodied. in a newspaper vending machine. It will be understood, however, that the controlling mechanism may be applied to vending apparatus of various kinds and may take various forms without departing from the spiritI of the invention. y

The particular apparatus here illustrated comprises a cabinet 5 at its top and divided by a vertical transverse partition 1 into two compartments, the compartment 8 constituting a magazine lfor the articles to be' vended and the compartment 9l containing the control mechanism. The article compartment 8 is provide-d at its lower front end with a discharge opening I through which articles are ejected and this opening is provided with aguard II to insure the delivery of a single article and to prevent the insertion ofl a havnga hinged closure 6' A (crisisuf hook or other implement by means of the articles might be Withdrawn. I

The articles may be ejected, or discharged, from the apparatus by an ejector of 'any suitable kind and in the construction illustrated theA ejector comprises a flatv plate I2 slidably mounted in the lower part of the cabinet and provided with meansfor actuating the same, in the present instance a pull rod I3 extending beyond the discharge opening I0 and having a handle portion I4. The bottom of the cabinet is provided with a groove in which the pull rod is 4mounted and this groove extends rearwardly beyond the pull rod and a spring I5 is mounted infthis rear portion of the groove and connected at one end with a stud I6 secured to the ejector plate I2 and secured at its other end to a stud Il mounted at the rear end of the groove, the spring serving to return the ejector to and tol retain the same in its normal or retracted position. Theejector plate is provided with an upwardly extending projection or lip I8 of such a height that it will pass beneath the llower which .edge of thepartition 1, which is spaced a short distance from the bottom of the cabinet, and will engage the lowermost article only and will eject that article through the opening Il) Awhen the ejector is moved to its foremost or ejecting position. The ejector may be such as to completely discharge the article from theapparatus but in vending articlessuch as newspapers the article ismo'ved by the ejector only far enough to enable the projecting endthereof to be grasped by the purchaser. f f v `r Mounted withinthe control chamber 9 is a coin chute I9 which is connected with the ejector for movement therewith and, in the present instance, is rigidly mounted on they ejector plate I2, as by `means of anupright supporting structure lor plate 20. One side wall of the cabinet is providedA with a coin inserting opening 2I so arranged that when the ejector is in its normal position one 'end of the chute will be in `line with the opening 2 I and adapted to receive coins' therefrom. This coin chute is adapted to re' ceive a plurality of coins andA means are provided for retaining the coins in the chute until they are' released by the operation of the control mechanism. Means are provided `for lockingthe ejector normally against movement to its ejecting position and this meansl includes a part so arranged that when the chute contains a predetermined number of coins the coin last inserted will engage and `acuate this part vof theA locking mechanism, when initial movement is imof the coin chute, in the present instance on,

pivot lugs 24 mounted on the end wall of the cabinet, and this rod extends forwardly and downwardly through the opening 22 so that it lies in the path of the coins in the chute I9 and will be engaged by the lowermost of said coins so as to retain all the coins in the chute. This rod is retained normallyinv its operative position by gravity and is provided with means,

whereby it will be moved out of the path of the coins, to release the same, asthe. ejector approaches the end of its ejecting movement. In the present instance the free end portion of the rod'is iiattened and widened, as Shown at 25, so that as the coinchute moves forwardly with the ejector this widened portion of the rod will be moved out Vof thev notch and onto the upper edge of the chute, thus moving it out ofthe path of the coins, and when the coin chute returns to its normal position the rod will automatically return to its operative position by gravity.

v The coin chute I9 is also provided in its upper edge with a second notch 26 which is spaced such a distance from the notch 22 that when a predetermined number of coins 2l, inthe present instance three pennies, are inserted in the chute and their movement larrestedby the rod 23 the uppermost coin, that is the one last inserted, will extend acrosscthe notch 26 andits upper edge will bev exposed through that notch. A locking member, or members, is secured to the ejector for movement therewith and, as here shown,'these members comprise two forwardly facing hook-shaped elements 28 spaced a short distance one from the other. Cooperating with these locking members is-a second or locking rod 29 which is pivotally mounted at one endv on an axis in the rear ofthe coinchute, such as the pivot lugs 30 secured to` therear wall of the cabinet. This rod extends forwardly and downwardly across the chute!!! ldirectly above the notch 26. This rod is provided at its lower endV with a lcross member, or T-head, V3l, which, when the chute is in its normal position, will rest upon the ejector plate l2 in line with the hook shaped locking membersfil, the longitudinal portion of the rod being arranged between these members, so that forward movement ofthe ejector while the locking rod is in its normal position, will result inthe hook shaped members 28 engaging over-the respective ends of the T- head 3|, which will positively interrupt the forward or ejecting movement of the ejector before the lip I8 thereof has moved far enough-to displace the lowermost article in the article com,- partment. It will be noted'from Fig. 2 that when the parts are in their normal positions the `T- head 3| of the locking arm is placed some little distance in front of the locking members onl the ejector and when the predetermined' 'number of coins has been inserted in and retained in the coin chute, with the last coin extending across the notch 26, the initial movement of the chute with the ejector will cause the upper edge ofthe coin last inserted to engage the locking rod 29 and move the T-head thereof to an elevated position out of the path of the locking members before' lthe latter have had an opportunity to has beenv released', .isV limited engage the same, thus releasing the ejector `for ejecting movement and permitting the same to be moved to the limit of its movement to eject the article. It will be Iobvious that if there is no coin in the chute or if less than the predetermined number of coins has been inserted therein the rod 29 will enter the notch 26 as the chute moves forwardly with the ejector, thereby permitting the hook shaped locking members to engage over the "r-shaped head of the locking arm and lock the-ejector againstffurther movement before the .locking arm' can engage and be actuated by the lower edge of the notch.

The forward movement of the ejector, after it by a stop32 secured to the ejectorV plate and arranged to engage a stop '33' end of` theV ejecting movement of the ejector the wider portion of the retaining arm 23 will engage the upper edge of the chute and release thercoins-and -permitathe -latterl to `be discharged from `,the chute -intoa suitablecoinreceptacle, which is here shown' asl a box `34 mounted .on

xedtothe cabinet. Just before Athe the ejector plate for, movement therewith so that it is at all times `beneath vthe discharge end of thechute.

While I have shown 4and descrbedone1em-* bodiment of my invention I wishit to be under-` stood that I do not desir-etc be limited'tofthe details thereof asv various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.l Having now fully describedimy invention, what I claim as new and desire to-secureby Letters- Patent, is:

1. In a vending apparatus, a cabinetA having means to'support articles to be vended, an ejec-` tor mounted in said cabinet-for forward ejecting; l movement, means fon-actuating saidV ejector;` a gravity coin chute connectedv with 'said ejector for movement thereby and having at its upper-- end a coin receiving; opening and having Aat its lower end a coin discharge opening, means .ad-1 jacent said discharge' openingftoretaincoins in. said chute when said -chute is in'its rearmostV position and'to -release said coins` whencay pre*- determined '-forward: movement has been imparted to ,saidfchuta a lockingmember carried:

by vsaid ejector in front offsaidi chute, said 'chute havingyan opening spaced such a 'distance from.` said'retaining kmeans that whena predetermined' number ofcoins has been inserted ,inl said chute the; coinvlast inserted will extend acrosszthel last` mentioned opening,Y a second locking vmember movably mounted ona xed support in said eabinet and having a locking part which normally cooperates with the first mentioned locking memberto; preventxej'ecting movementof said. ejector, said .locking member'` alsoI having` a second 'part spaced from saidy locking part andy positioned front of 'said' chute *to Vbe engaged and actuated byv said last .coin to forwardly with said coins therein. and to 'extendthroughf said openits' operative position forwardly with less number of coins therein 2.' In a vending apparatus, a cabinet having means to support articles to :.be. vended, an'l'ejec` tor mounted in said cabinetfor forward ejecting movement, meansfor .actuating said ejector, aA

gravity coin chute connected-with said ejector for movement` thereby and move said locking part to annoperativepposition when said chute' is moved predetermined number of havinggatv its Vupper endv a coin.-receiving .openingfand. having at its;

'lower end ag'coin discharge opening, means adjacent said discharge opening to retain coins insaid chut'ewhen said chute is in its rearmost position and to release said coins when a predetermined forward movement has been imparted to'said chute a locking member .carried by said ejector in front of said chute, said chute having in one edge. thereof a notch spaced such a distance from said retaining means that when a predetermined number of coins has been inserted in said chutethe. coin last inserted will extend across said notch, a rod .pivotally mounted on a fixed axis in the rear of said chute, extending forwardly across said chute and having at its forward end a locking part which normally cooperates with said locking member to prevent ejecting movement of said ejector, said rod also having an inclined part arranged in front of and adjacent to said notch to be engaged and actuated by the coin extending across said notch to move saidlocking part to an inoperative position when said chute is moved forwardly with said predetermined number of coins therein and to enter said notch without moving said locking part when said chute is moved forwardly with less than said predetermined number of coins therein.

3. In a vending apparatus, a cabinet having means to support articles to be vended, an ejector mounted in said cabinet for forward ejecting movement, means for actuating said ejector, a gravity coin chute connected with said ejector for movement thereby and having at its upper end a coin receiving opening and having at its lower end a coin discharge opening, a retaining member movably mounted on a fixed support in said cabinet yand having a part whichk extends into the path of the coins in said chute when said chute is in its rearmost position, said member having a second part spaced forwardly from the first mentioned part to be engaged and actuated by said chute to move said rst mentioned part out of the path of said coins when a predetermined forward movement has been imparted to said chute, a locking member carried by said chute, said chute having an opening spaced from said retaining member such a distance that when a predetermined number of coins has been inserted in said chute the coin last inserted will extend across the last mentioned opening in said chute, a second locking member movably mounted in said cabinet on a fixed support, having a locking part which normally cooperates with the first mentioned locking member to prevent ejecting movement of said ejector and also having a part arranged in front of. said chute to be engaged and actuated by the coin which extends across said last mentioned opening to move said locking member to an inoperative position when said chute is moved forwardly with said predetermined number of coins therein.

4. In a vending apparatus, a cabinet having means to support articles to be vended, an ejector slidably mounted in said cabinet for forward ejecting movement, means for actuating said ejector, an inclined coin chute connected with said ejector for movement thereby and having at its upper end an opening through which coins may be inserted therein and having at its lower end an opening through which said coins may be discharged, a rod pivotally mounted en an axis fixed with relation to said ejector, extending normally across the lower portion of said chute in the path of the lowermost coin in said chute and having a part in front of. said chute arranged to be engaged land actuated by said chute to move said rod out of the path of said coins when said chute is moved forwardly by said ejector, a locking member carried by said ejector, and a second rod pivotally mounted on an axis fixedwith relation tosaid ejector and having at its free end a partiwhich extends into the path of said locking member when said chute is in its rearmost position or contains less than a predetermined number of coins', said second rod being so arranged with relation to` said chute and tothe first mentioned rod that when said chute is in its rearmost position and contains said predetermined number of coins a part of said second rod will be positioned in front of and adjacent to the uppermost coin in said chute and the initial forward movement of said chute by said ejector will cause said uppermost coin to engage the last mentioned part of said second rod and move the first mentioned part thereof out of the path of said locking member.

5. In a vending apparatus, a cabinet having means to support articles to be vended, an ejector slidably mounted in said cabinet, means for actuating said ejector, an inclined coin chute connected with said ejector for movement thereby and having at its upper end an opening through which coins may be inserted in said chute and having at its lower end an opening through which said coins may be discharged, said chute having in its upper edge a notch near the lower end thereof and a second notch spaced from the first mentioned notch such a distance that when said chute contains a predetermined number `of coins the coin last inserted will extend across said second notch, a rod pivotally mounted on an axis fixed with relation to said ejector, supported normally in said lower notch in the path of said coins and having a part arranged in front of said chute to be engaged and actuated by said chute to move said rod out of the path of said coins when said chute is moved forwardly a predetermined distance by said ejector, a locking member carried by said ejector, a second rod pivotally mounted on an axis xed with relation to said ejector, extending downwardly and forwardly across said chute above and in front of said second notch and having at its lower end a part supported normally in the path of said locking member, said second rod being thus so positioned with relation to said second notch that the initial forward movement of said chute by said ejector will cause a coin extending across said second notch to engage said second rod and move said part thereof out of the path of saidy locking member.

6. In a vending apparatus, a cabinet having in its forward portion an article compartment and in its rear portion a control-compartment, an ejector comprising a plate slidably mounted in the lower part of said cabinet with its rear portion in said control compartment and having a part adapted to engage an article in said article compartment, means for imparting forward ejecting movement to said ejector, a transversely inclined coin chute rigidly mounted on said plate in said control compartment and having at its upper end an opening through which coins may be inserted in said chute and having at its lower end a discharge opening, said cabinet having an opening registering with the upper opening of. said chute when said ejector is in its rearmost position, said chute `having in its upper edge a notch adjacent the discharge end thereof and a second notch spaced from the first mentioned notch such a distance that when said chute contains a predetermined number of coins the coin last inserted will extend across said second notch, a rod pivotally mounted on a xed axis in the rear of said chute, extending forwardly through the rst mentioned notch in the path of said coins and having a relatively wide forward part to engage the upper edge of said notch and move said rod out of the path .of said coinswhen said chute is moved forwardly by said ejector, a hook-shaped locking member secured to said plate in front of said chute, a second rod pivotally mounted on a fixed axis in the` rear of .said chute, extending forwardly .and downwardly across said chute part thereof out Y 10 

